Aces, 'Erks And Backroom Boys

by Edward Smithies

When we remember the Second World War in the air, we think of fighter pilots and bomber crews. But the men and women working as ground crew and in the aircraft factories who also played a crucial role in defeating Hitler. What was it like, making history? What sense did these individuals have of what they were doing, either at the time or later? Did they feel they were caught up in the tide of great events? Or were they simply doing their demanding and often dangerous duty?

Its reviews speak eloquently on its behalf: 'Fascinating... this collection illuminates corners of the wartime world... it provides a valuable and often entertaining window' The Guardian

'The horrors have not been suppressed... Everyone who speaks was very young then. You sense their wonder that they did the things they recall' The Independent on Sunday

306 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2002

Reviews

[Carl Timms · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting set of stories of British air power during WW2. Told entirely through interviews of those who lived through it, it’s an interesting, occasionally powerful, first hand account of the industrial last hurrah of the British Empire as planes and pilots were created and lost in their thousands.

It covers every area of the British air effort except weirdly very little about the Battle of Britain. Whilst I’m sure that subject has been written to death for someone who’s not well read on aviation history it just felt like a gaping while in the narrative. Our Finest Hour skirted round for stories of low risk photography runs in Africa.

Some of the stories and opinions get a little repetitive but in a way that enforces just how repetitive life was back then. There’s a lot of commiserating how the whole country (mostly) came together to fight a noble cause yet it’s resulted in the world we inhabit now. There’s a strong sense of regret that things haven’t turned out better I found by the end rather sad and profound.